A New Jersey Love Story
On May 26th, 2021, Joe and Kristina will stand before family and friends to renew their vows and to celebrate the goodness of life with the ones they hold near and dear.
Joe and Kristina first met years ago at one of Joe’s gigs. Joe’s played in a band with Kristina’s cousin, and the two would run into each other at the shows. At the time, Joe was happily married to his wife of 20 years but sadly lost her to a sudden illness in 2010. Four years later, Joe and Kristina reconnected online. They started dating, fell in love and ended up eloping in Las Vegas a year later, on Joe’s 50th birthday.
Just two years into wedding bliss, Joe started experiencing some debilitating back pain. He had worked for years as a roofer and caulked up the pain to his job. As the season changed and his pain worsened, he went to see a pain management specialist, but it would not subside. As fate would have it, Joe was working on a job site when he was accidentally hit in the chest with a screw. It turns out that the screw had hit a large tumor in his lungs.
The tumor was biopsied and Joe received the devastating diagnosis of stage four lung cancer. He underwent an intense and very difficult chemotherapy program, which resulted in numerous complications and multiple hospitalizations. The chemo ended up shrinking some of his tumors, but in 2020, the cancer spread to his brain. He has undergone two brain surgeries and is currently under the care of an in-patient rehab center. Thankfully, the facility has agreed to release him for the day so that he and Kristina can celebrate with their loved ones. Joe is a fighter through and through and has been spending much of his time counseling and encouraging other cancer patients in his same position.
From day one, we have been moved by Joe’s amazing attitude and his tenacious spirit and are honored to make this dream come true for them. We teamed up with an incredible wedding planner in Natalie David and have been so thrilled with the lovely team of wish granters that she has recruited.
So many advanced thanks to these fine folks:
Wedding planner: Natalie, K David Events
Venue and Catering: Crystal Plaza
Photographer: Idalia Photography
Video: Media X Marketing
Floral: Bloomery Flower Studio
Stationer: Sweet Ideas by Sue
Hair: Melanie Walode
Makeup: Michele Renee Beauty
Cake: We Knead the Dough
Officiant: Marry Me Ceremony
Linens: Nuage Designs
